Angus: An IBM i call to arms

When you read a lot of the internet noise related to IBM i, it seems to be overwhelmingly negative. Whenever there is a complaint, there is a lot of discussion and debate related to the topic. However, when there are positive things happening, there tends to be a major lack of response.

Here is my challenge to the IBM i community – in three parts.
1. Whenever there is a negative post, blog entry or news report, consider posting your positive response. Don’t engage in unnecessary debate, just say your piece and leave it there.
2. Whenever there is a positive post, blog entry or news report, post a response with your support. Make it more than rah-rah, make it more than cheerleading, talk about how it has or will affect you positively.
3. Point everyone in your IBM i address book and mailing list to the positive entries, and solicit their contribution.

One final note -remember to send this blog entry to everyone in your IBM i address book and mailing list. Click here to send the email.

We can change the world by overwhelming the loud and negative traffic with our positivity and showing our support for the best platform on the planet – IBM i on Power Systems.

David, I think anyone is able to tell negative from positive, and I would not suggest it is topic-specific. And it is up to you to make that call.

When your post is a slam, rather than an observation, you might be a negative poster. When you make a complaint, rather than a suggestion, you might be a negative poster. When you sound like you are whining, rather than debating constructively, you might be a negative poster. When you insult someone in the thread, you might be a negative poster. When you engage in logical fallacies rather than informed discussion, you might be a negative poster.

I am taking this call to arms myself, so I am not a negative poster.
How about you?

I am sure we can hold IBM accountable to the platform and to the community without whining and without negativity. Criticism is not defined as negative, but it tends to be seen that way. Constructive criticism can be turned negative with a word. Everyone will have a different definition of negative, and the line will be different for everyone.

The way I see it is, that while we are all passionate about IBM i, we tend to jump on the negativity bandwagon quickly. Let’s add a positive voice to all that noise!

The sooner each of us realise that what we say and how we say that, “can” (read may) have a direct impact on how the platform is perceived by the outside world, the better for us all.

We all know we are on the best commercial computing platform the industry has ever seen. For the first time in living memory the OS can compete head-on with other so-called OSes… and wipe the floor with them ito ROI, integration and stability and a host of other characteristics.

Each of us have a unique contribution to make. We can CHOOSE to be positive. We may not neccesarily agree with everything, but we can choose how we address the issue: constructively or destructively.

I for one are extremely excited by the opportunities IBM i and ROA presents!! For the first time in living memory the platform can compete head-on without sundry encumbrances. There is a LOT more to be positive about than to cry about…

I agree that the platform i is the best ever. I don’t know who you are Marinus but if you say that “For the first time in living memory the OS can compete head-on with other so-called OSes”¦” I believe you.